Swindon 4 Stockport 1

Two goals in each half handed Swindon a comfortable win at the County Ground and brought the Stockport back down to earth with a bump. Danny Ward and Billy Paynter struck in the first period, before Greg Tansey pulled one back for the visitors in added-on time.

Two goals in each half handed Swindon a comfortable win at the County Ground and brought the Stockport back down to earth with a bump.

Danny Ward and Billy Paynter struck in the first period, before Greg Tansey pulled one back for the visitors in added-on time.

A largely nervous second half saw Swindon finally see off a determined Hatters side through a Simon Ferry header and Paynter’s deflected effort.

Less than four minutes had elapsed when Jon-Paul McGovern drilled a corner low to the edge of the box.

Although Jonthan Douglas’ first-time strike was blocked, the loose ball fell kindly to Danny Ward, who curled it into the far corner with the aid of a slight deflection.

Swindon doubled their lead through Paynter before Tansey smashed home a fierce 20-yard free-kick to pull a goal back for the Hatters.

But two second-half goals from Ferry and then Paynter sealed all three points for the promotion-chasing Robins to leave County 12 points from safety in League One with a vital relegation six-pointer to come against second-from-bottom Wycombe Wanderers at Edgeley Park on Saturday.